Europe's first biodiesel train goes into service » Environment » 24dash.com

Europe's first biodiesel train goes into service today as part of a bid to make rail travel more environmentally friendly.

The Virgin Voyager train will use a blended fuel which is 20% biodiesel in a trial run by the company, the Association of Train Operating Companies and the Rail Safety and Standards Board to find a sustainable fuel for the rail network.

The train will set off today as the 11.27 passenger service from London Euston to Llandudno.

During the trial, it will run across much of Britain, from Birmingham to Scotland, in South Wales, North East England, the North West, West Country, the South West and South Coast,

If the experiment is successful, Virgin hopes to run its Voyager fleet on the 20% biodiesel, which is blended to reduce CO2 emissions without affecting the working of the train's engines. Such a move could cut emissions by 14%.

Biodiesel is a processed fuel derived from biological sources such as vegetable oils which is biodegradable and produces less CO2 than conventional diesel.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said: "If the trial is a success - and we believe it will be - and we can convert our Voyager fleet to run on B20 biodiesel, we could cut our CO2 emissions by up to 14%.

"This means 34,500 tonnes less CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere each year, and is equivalent to taking 23,000 cars off the road.

"Government wants to see a reduction in transport's carbon dioxide emissions, and Virgin and the rail industry are at the forefront actively playing their part in this," he said.

He said the company was starting with a 20% biodiesel blend and hoped to increase it to 100% in the future, which would be the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.

Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, who will be at today's launch of the train, said: "I want Britain to be a world leader in the development and use of environmentally-friendly fuels, and I believe they will play a fundamental part in our efforts to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.

"I wish Virgin every success with these pilot schemes and I look forward to hearing the results."

Sir Richard said in London today: "The tax on clean fuels is, quite bizarrely, higher than on dirty fuels.

"Our indications are from Gordon Brown that he will address this problem. If it is not addressed, we will have dirty fuels and the clean fuels will head abroad to countries such as France and Germany instead."

The biodiesel element of the fuel being used today is made up of rapeseed, soyabean and palm oil. The trial will last for six months, with special fuelling points installed at Barton-under-Needwood in Staffordshire and Crofton in West Yorkshire.

Sir Richard said: "It's fantastic that we are leading the rest of Europe in developing this fuel."

Copyright Press Association 2007.

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